Bifunctional storage-battery plate.



v APPLICATION FILED :EB. 18, 1909.

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L STORAGE BA Patented June 29, 1909.

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in v A. 0. TATE. BIFURGTIONAL STORAGE BATTERY PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1909.

' Patented June 29. 1909.

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V BIFUNGTIONAL STORAGE BATTERY PLATE.

- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1909. 92 ,71 i I PatentedJunq 29, 1909.

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went in hil'unctioiml moi-age ALFRED 0. TATE, or TCRIONTOLONTARFIO, CANADA.

BIFUNCTIONAL STORAGEQBATTERY PLATE.

Specificzition of Letters Potent "Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed. February 18, 1909.' Serial No. 478,657.

lfic it known that l, ;\LFI{EIY (l TATE, iisnhji-ci ol' the Kingof (,il'tztl Britain and reside-it ol Toronto, lrorinre ol' ()ntririo, Dominion ol' (iiiizidr have HlzHlO it new and useful invention in Hiiti'illUilLinYL My inveniion is directed to an improvelmtter f phifes ol' the types discloscd in my Nos. HSUALZU: SNUJLH; SH] 2 and SSW-L23,

'zill hearing dzite ol' Felirua 0th, 1908, 21nd ils olhiet'is fll'OI Firs-h to increiisc the efficient energy of it hil'onetionnl phite of given eight and dimensions h providing means \\'l'l(I'C.l) K-' the flifilllfltilijl of the electrolyte throughout the phitc is facilitated, and in consequence whereof the nutoimitioadjustmerit, of the specific grayiiy ol' the solution to the (lGUfiUHlS fivlHl l'tqllll'flllllllis of the aetive, nutter-i511 is secured. Second, to provide means I iiherclr hil'unctionail s'forn ge lmtter plates may he more. (llOCtUiLlljf ventilated so as to theri-hy :iilford zihsolute liher- :iliUIl ol all of the gases. Third, to olitziin more effective results than have heretofore been possihle. with liil'unciionnl storage hatrterv plates by arranging" individuul units of plains of this nat ure which are so constructed as in allord an ei'l'cctivc circulation of the elci-trolyte and un zihsolutc freedom of it" of the generated gases in ii multiple relation,

he structural lr i|'ui| -tionii.l phit'cs disclosed in the hol'orc-n'ientioncd patents relate more particularly to interleaved anodes Q IHl cathodes separated l) porous media, and the thereby largely increasing the efl'ective surllll'Pl'UYOHlOlil which l'orins the suhject of this zipplicniion is directed specifically to these separating media.

I have found in my tests oi porous media in :1 hiiunctionzil plate ol'lhe lead-lead type, and more pzirticularl ofdiiiphrogins' iniide from po'i ous chi v, that they have a tendency to apprcrinhly 'ii'isuhltc the active iiiriterinl from the electrolyte through mlhesiwr confine-t, with the former, and also to filter the solution by passing the writer with greater l'reedoi'i'i than the acid. Both of these; conditions operate to curtail the useful 7 energy of the cell; the first by rendering a part of the active material inactive, :indthe second by the produci-ionhl' high and deleterious acidity 'm'; the active surfaces under lii'um'tioiinl StoiaigQ- Batter Planes, of \\'lll(li the following is a] [R S. Patents clmrg'e, and insufficient aeidity under (lischarge. In otherwords, the specific gravity of the cell does not, ridj ust itself with SUll'iGiGl'it spontaneity to the normal and essential requirements of the active material in a working-plate and my present improvement is designed to correct this condition in the way hereinafter stated.

My improvement will ho'lully understood hy referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which,

Figure 1 is :in elevzitional view 01 one of the. anode or cathode strips and its open supporting and. insulating frame, showing also the active n'niterial as applied to one of the sides of said strip, these features being substuntiulb similar to thelike pin-ts shown and described in my prior patent No. 880,422. Fig. 2 is a similar view of one of my improved vented or perforated mechanical separator strips having holes or'openings at each end similar to the openings lot the. ends 01' the frame shown in Fig. Fig. 3 is a similar View of :i second vented orpcrl'oriited ine- (dmniciil sepiim or strip-provided with means at its edges for holding'the separators apart or away from each other. Fig. 4 is alike view of :1 modified form of vented or perforated mechanical se arator strips for use in n hil'unctioiizil plate, like that disclosed in my prior patent No. 880,421. Fig. 5 is-a side 'clcvzitionul View ol' :i complete hil'u iicfional plate, full length i'UNl llilll width, said plzttO- einhodving the iinproveiinents upon my prior invent ons 1s to flielflhglllltlllul elements 01 -the plate pFopcr, the upper lcl'thand and the lower ri 'hl hand corner ol'ihis )lnte lining h 1 shown in hrokcn sectional view forthe purpose of more clearly illustrating the interior structural I'Olitllfll] ol' the ports :is to the free circulation of the electrolyte and the release ol' the gases. Fig. 6 is a plan view :is soon looking at Fig. 5 from tli'etop toward the hot tom of the drawing, a portion of the interconi-iected'anode stripsbcing broken away to hotter "show. the vertically {lispo- 1| vent (f-l'lfll'll'lGlS betw en the anode and cathode strips for readily permitting of the liberation of the generated ,gases. Fig. 7 is :111 elevational view of :1 multiple unit rhil'nnetional plate and ,the supporting frame therefor, the some illustrating it further important feature 01' my invention, in that it shows how I 813- min numerous advantages due to such lilliltiple interrelation, as hereinafter disclosed. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the'l'runie or sup seen looking thereat from the top toward the bottom of the drawing in the direction of the arrows, the upper edges of six unit bifunctibnal plates and their" connections being shown. Flg. 9 is an elevational View oi four bil'unctional plates on an enlar multiple connections between t 1e .anode and cathode strips being shown. Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating actual comparison curves of results obtained from bifunctional plates constructed in accordancewith the specification my prior patent No. 880,422, and from the resent specification and drawings, the two sheets of the drawings bein laced end to end with Fig. 10 upon the hit; the dotted lines representin results from the earlier late and the'ful or continuous lines those rom the plate disclosed in the present application. ig. 12 represents in p an view, and on a scale of 1 to 6, a copper plate eighteen inches square and .025 of an inch thick. Figs. 13, 14 and 15 represent in sectional View, and on a scale of 1 to 2, the efl'ects of ed scale, the

electrolytic treatment in ail-electrolytic bath of a plate as shown in Fig. 12 and upon the assumption that the current is a plied at the u per edge only of the entire p ate.

Re errin now to the drawings in detail in which like etters represent like parts wherever used, I will describe the essential structural parts of my improved interleaved biiunctional plate and tures which characterize it as a patent-able improvement u on the bifunctional storage batte plates isclosed in my prior patents herein efore referred to, particularly Patent No. 880,422.

Calling attention first to Figs. 1 to 4 inelusive, B re resents an c on supporting trains of insu ating materia such as hard rubber, for any one of a plurality of anode .or cathode strips or ribbons A held in place therein, said frame having bolt holes or openings at its opposite ends, as shown, these frames not being substantially different from the like parts disclosed in my prior patent No. 880,422. '0 represents the active material held in place as before in the open faces of the frames and .on the opposite faces of the strips or ribbons. D and G represent the two component parts of what I term as vented or perforated mechanical separators for erforming the quadruplitfunctionof ((1.) hol ing the anode and cathodclstrips and their supporting frames apart; (7:) maintaining the active .material in place; (0) affording a free circulation of the electrolyte to the active material; and (d) freely venting or liberating all of the generated gases which tend to accumulate during use of the plate, and particularly when charging it. Those two arts are made of insulating material, as ce luloid, hard rubber, etc. and havcpracand drawings of' the distinguishing featically the same superficial areaas the frames 1B,.andare provided each with: a relatively large number ofvent holes or perforations I'find inpractice that excellent results are had in a bifunctional plate of the dimensions hereinafter described and as illustrated in the drawings where the vents or perforations are about 1/50 of an inch in diameter and about 1.00 per square inch of the surface actually perforated, although I do not limit myself to any specified number 'hvrvol'. Each of these two mechanical separator strips has holes or openings at its opposite ends similar in dimensions to and calenderino; withthe like holesin the ends of the frames B, '3, when secured together by the binding shown three. pairs thereof.

as to effect a number of lateral slots or open- I,

ings" extending entirely through the plate, so as to afl'ord a free circulation of the electro lyte through the entire plate, also permitting it to pass directly through the vents or openings to the active material. Such a, structural separator also provides vertical channels or flues extending' between each pair of vanode and cathode strips. for allording a ready outlet for the generated gases. The advantages of these features as an 1Inp1'ove ment upon the invention disclosed m my inc prior patent No. 880,422 will be referred to I more particularly later on.

In Fig. 4 I have shown one of the mechan ical separator components as applicable with the formof bifunetional plate shown in my prior patent No. 880,421, ous insulating strips are grooved to provide pockets or compartments for the H'cvpl ion of active material. Each perforated insulating strip of this form (Fig. 4-) is provided on the faces opposite those shown in i igs. Z and 3 with a continuous hem-in ol dimensions the same as E E shown in Fig. Il'and illustrated in Fig. 4 by the lcttvrll. This in which the per-- continuous bearing along the edges and bot- I toms of the strips forms a groove or pocket which is filled with active material (1*.

The width of all the strips shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is preferably 9/16 of an inch. The width of the perforated sections is proforablv 3/8 of an inch. The 'l'ormcr confiirms wit h' thc width of the sectional l'ralnes it and the latterwith the width of the coating oiactive material (1. The elemental parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are assembled in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and-(l upon binding bolts provided with nuts, as shown,

and the elasticity of all of the parts is such that the binding plates and bolts hold the expansion of the active 'ivo series of lusts have denim plate in a secure manner and the capacity is fully compensated.

am aware that sheets of insulating material such as hard rubber and celluloid, have, heretofore been used as separators instorage battery cells of the unifunctional plate type, and I make no claim hereinafter broad enough to-include this structure. In this .type of cell, Zl llfill is employml universally in storage battery practice throughout the Morld to-day, the perforatedplate or sheet of insulating ma toria-l was .intrmiuced for the purpose of preventing the short-cireuiting of the rnctallio pia-tes or grids through the distorting phenomenon known as buckling. In so far as the action of such a cell depends upon the freedom of eieotrolytie' circulation and cur rent flow these insulating plates form a positive impediment and. their use re )IiSPTlIS nothing Inore than a compromise Jet. Jen two obstructive conditions. In contrast to this and as an indir'ation of the iinprrweinent I have effected in the previous state of the ,art relating to hitunetional storage battery plates 1 direct attention to Figs. 10 and 1 which disclose a set of rurves showing dis' charges atprogressive rates of two infirm-- tional plates ronstrur'ted in the form revealed in my prior ll. S. Patent No. 380,422, of equal dimensions and each carrying the same Weightof aotixo material. 'l he dotted lines of dis hargo indicate the czmanity of lhe plate erpiipped with porous clay diaphragms, or capi lary se iarators and the full or continuous lines slow the capacity of the plate provided with the inechanirral separators described in this specification. 'ihere are shown l.hroe pairs of sur'h curves with dis- (hui' rates respectively of 2, 4 and 8 amper The marked. improvement in the opcration oi the plate equipped ith the latter is due to the freer cirvulalion of tho rl trolyte ehix-h, as shou n by tho hydrornvter, adjlists'itself autoinatir'ally to the demands and requirements oi the aetiw material. A like irnprovvmvnt is r-li'vrat-od in the operation of. l-har inguhen gases are i'rw-ly gi-nerated and as freely lihvrau-d thrgmghllw inedia'ol' the iinohstruvtml lluvs' [owned by these 111" chanivai separators. in addition to this the ac-tive material slums no tendency to adhuro to these perforat d strips as it does to porous modiu, and the vlvvtrolytv. thorel'orv,iinds a relatively free passage lwhiud them after it enters through the perforations. Furtherlnoi'e, these strips are sullzr'n-ntl'y blastio he tween their lwarings to eoinpensate for the inatorhai, ahioh, viewed as a ILH iHLHlCHl movement in each activer-olunin, is very slight. 1Au exhaust is rah-(l (In linitrly that. the iH'tiVO nuilvrial cannot subdivide under-any conditions of usagein particles sullir-iently line to enter andrseapo breathing perforated plates 01" through the perforations in .the adoption of this nieri'iariital sepa' -a(-hioved I particularly direct at parl. ol' thr- [i provides a l'rev and unoh these strips. shields equally as .as porous anyone 'rien that They constitute retaining efl'ective for thatspeeiifo purposr; media. It will .now/l skilled in the art of storing eh l of utility, ,To further iDIPIUVIIllillL from' u hat has .l'

herto liven.

lOIit ion, to the fact that these.extreinely narrow; strips of, perforated insulating ain I sense sheets or plates. 'lihoy arel-onrp oirei'it parts of a struvture.uhichfilo not assunw 5U the form of a plateuntil a relatively larg'v nuln her of these strips liaroheen as ggnhlial in proper relation to other.cornponi nt ser- Lions. lioferenoe i horvi L-vhire ifltli made to the fact that-those sLIi are ouly in idtl -amtlliat actise material i i dilqhdh j lato nine siXtm-u ths of an i1 they eovr-r columns I Which are only iiiiIlCO-{dgllli Width. My stan rd consists of 25 posi split i'ivgathrl si ctio. :II'LWV (Length (top to"'l)ottoni" 'idth (nerd-as fur-o over Depth (samons hidlh of frames) Width of i;l"l(

l'ranu-s This plate is ilh ,loo my prior l 3. PHJIUIQIJ}: l'oro referrod tg h ll reasons i\ hy it. do ah of those (-oiunius of quvutl \',.;1.lu an:

tween um avlivosvetion question may he asked; 5 .not the depth or thivknr-ss oil ,host. plat! he in creased indefinitely? ,And following-this 15m tact with the active material are only 8 inches in length, 7/16 of an inch in width and from 1 32101/100 of an inch thick, and these dimensions are maintained under all condi- 5 .tions of usage as explained below. In these relatively short, thin, narrow metallic strips or ribbonsthc hazard. of unequal metallic density, and in consequence thereof unequal current distribution and resultant- .sulfating is thereforereduced to an absolute minimum.

For'the purpose of showing the novel mechanical method whereby this condition is 1 maintained in my bil'unctional plates, under all conditions of usage, I direct attention to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 ol' the drawings, particularly to Fig. 7 which illustrates an insulating sup-i porting frame J carrying a series of my novel independent electrodes or bii'unctional plates and two bus mains +M and -M This indicates the manner in which I construct Plates oilargze capacity which are formed of multiples of the individual units. Fig. 9 illustrates how they are connected up in mulitiple sets of four plates by conductors w, w. In Fig. '7 thercare shown thirty-six such individual plates or units, theupper edges or anode )lates thereof being all connected'in multip e with the plus pole or bus main +M,

and the lower edges thereof similarly connected to the minus pole or bus main '-M in charging or discharging. 7 These units are all detachable from the frames individually and in the same manner" as is disclosed in my prior patent No. 857,91(L'granted'June 25th,

' With relation to the important factor of internal resistance, it will be noted that these units or individual plates, each representing a superficial area of about 7 0 square inches,

40 are thus assembled in multiple relation and connected in turn in multlple to the bus fl'nains +M and M. The width of the ex- ,osed lateral edges of the sectional plate rames illustrated in Fig. in the drawings accompanying this specification is 3/32 of an inch. As these sections, representing component parts of the. complete unit, are also assembled in multiple relation, as are the sections of all my bil'unctional plates herein referred to, it. will be readily seen that the factor ol' intcrnal resistance has been brought to the lowest point possible of attainment through the application of mechanical metli" ods'invdlving the su b-division and multiple 7,

grouping of all those parts which, in action, are electrically interrelated.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art that the efficient energy ofa storage cell of given size can be increaserlonly by decreasing its internal resistance and it is'in 'this important connection that the value of the improvement which is the main feature of this specification manifests itself.

Having reached the practical limits of cells for the ar shows that they must possess some dismechanical sub-division of electrically interrelated parts, no. further improvement could be effected in the (llI'BCiZlODlIldlCfitBd at any point-other than that occupied by the media .bii'unctional plate has been reduced and its efiicient energy increased ;to the significant extent shown by the curves in Figs. 10 and 11. In addition to this the greater freedom of electrolytic contact and circulation secured by means of this mechanical separator eliminates another probable. cause of sul-' fating. v

used in storage battery Porous media were cells at the very inception of the art.

tempts have heretofore been made to utilize porous clay plates in unifunctiona'l plate urpose of retaining the active material in p ace and they perform this function with mechanical precision. But the fact that the never have been adopted to an apprecia le extent in the practice of the 9.0 abilit ,to offset their mechanical advantages and t e nature of this disability I have stated herein. It, of course, becomes more pro- 'nounced with each increase of plate area and the foregoin and following .ex lanations will serve to ndicate why cells 0 this type are nowhere em loyed in storage battery installations of re atively large capacity.

With regard to the generation of current density on the face of a unifunetional storage battery plate, when two such platesa positive and a negative-are in electrical contact through the medium of the electrolyte, the line of least resistance between them follows a' path located above their horizontal centers and alon their-vertical and horizontal edge areas were so-cal'led extraneous stream lines are given off. The result of this condi tion is that with iven current flow, the superimposed 01 oo eted active masses are unevenly attac ed. Relatively lighter current densities aredeveloped along the. vertical" central regions and below the horizontal central regions of the plates, and this condition, emphasized with each increase of plate area, is probably the major cause of sulfatingv in storage batteries of the unil'unctional plate type, more especially those of relatively large surface capacity as required for electric lighting and peak load regulation.

In my bifunctional plates the current finds entrance at the to and exit at the bottom, or vice versa, of a fhiely subdividedmultipleassembled unit provided with extremely short conductors, and the line of potential 1 5 equalization follows, therefore, the exact horizontal center of the plate. There can be no appreciable variation of current density I either above or below this line in a vertical direction. In addition to this, by-rcstricting 13G horizontal center,

'- sity areas is thus achieved with as great a degree of precision asit is possible to attain in the exercise of practical mechanical art.

mean by this that in a unifunctional plate of relatively large superficial area herein the current is admitted along the upper edge and finds an exit along the bottom edge, the line of potential equalization will follow the exact if metallic resistance throughout the whole plate is assumed to be constant, andthat if current density at one desi nated section of the plate located below the orizontal center be represented by 10 .the density of the corresponding seetion above the horlzontal cent-er will also be -represented by 10. This method of admitting and releasing the current provides for the equalization of current density in corresponding sections of the late located in a yertical line above and be ow the horizontal center, but it does not rovide for the equalization of current density between late sections which do not correspond witli res set to relative locatlon along the same ine.

Equalization in this direction is more closely approximated as the distance between the top and bottom of the plate is shortened, for the reason that as the horizontal line of equalization is approached, potential and, consequently, current density must necessarily diminish to the extent of the progressive expenditure of energy necessary to overcome the resistance of the conducting medium, and this expenditure of energy is in due proportion to the distance "traversed.

Thusthe shortening of the plate or conductor adjusts and equalizes current density in a vertical direction.- Again, in a unifunctional plate of relatively large width, as the vertical central regions are ap reached current dentends to become ighter, for the reason ,that current flow, somewhat like magnetism and static electricity, has a tendency to seek the more, extreme or outer sections of a metallic conducting 'medium, a manifesta tion well defined in theprocessof electroplating. Equalization -'n r this horizontal direction is more closelyapproximated as the distance between the vertical or lateral edge areas of the plate is decreased. To demonstrate this action I conducted an experiment which is illustrated by Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15' in the accompanying drawings, in which a,

is increased, are

parts as indicated by bers 1 to 18 inclusive (shown 'latter figure being,

, an 15, represent tions, after the plating 1/4 of an inch in width and 18 inchesin This plate was again divided into:

length. three equal sections by indented lines in(li cated. by c. d and e. f, same figure. 'It was then immersed in a cyanid of copper electroplating bath, distant about 3 inches from the anode and subjected for six hours to .a current of 10 amperes under 4 volts E. M. F. admitted through a conductor along the upper edge. Astrip of the original sheet of exactly the same dimensions as one of the longitudinal sect-ions of plate, Fig. 12, was divided into three equa parts each of which was found to weigh. 9 grains, thus indicating the weight of each subdivided longitudinal section of the complete plate before immersion. After immersion for the period stated the plate was removed longitudinal strip was and dissected.- Each cut into three equal the dotted lines a; d and e.f, Fig. 12, and the'weight of each part ascertained and recorded. 1 In Fig. 13 the straight line a. b-represents the plane of upper plate section a, b. c. (1., Fig. 12, before:

above electro-plating, as indicated by the weights of its longitudinal sections, and the curved line a. dFig. 13 shows the same lane after electroplating and the relation it bears'to the former with regard to relative longitudinal sectional weights, indicated in grains.

In Fig. 14 the straight line a. b shows the plane of central plate section cl cl. e.f., Fig. 12, in a similar manner before clectro-plating and c. d, Fig. 14 the same plane after electroplating. v I

In Fig. 15the straight line (A. b shows the lane of lower plate section 2. f. g. h, Fig. 12 efore electrolating and c. d, Fig. '15 the same plane after electro-plating, as above.

It will be noted that the horizontal numbclow Fig. 13) represent in inches both the width and length of the plate shown in Fig. 12, said as before stated, drawn upon a scale of 1 to 6; while Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive are drawn upon a, scale of 1 to 2. It will also'be noted that the numerals 9, wherever shown on the left of Figs. 13, 14 the weight in grains of each '0 fof the individual sections \of the plate 'shown in-Fig. 12 before'any plating efi'ect was had, which dividing the total weight of the plate by 72. The numerals 10 to 13 inclusive, 10 to 12 inclusive and 10 to.11 inclusive, on the left of Figs. 13, 14 and'15, represent respectively the weight in grains of thecorrespondi'ng secefiectjs had. several sectional view illustrated in Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive all of th e sections intermediate the outer or end sections in each figure will obviously be of lesser weight than said weights were obtained by' In the lilend sections, as indicated by the vertical dotted. lines in each figure. 4

Each of the three Figs. 13, 14 and 15, taken in its'entirety, represents a horizontal cross-sflational elevation of the threeplate sections described above and taken respectively along the lines cfd, afand g. h Fig. 12,

' case was equalwithregard to the results of course,

deposition illustrated in Figs. 13, let and 15, it follows'that current quantity must have been unequal over the sectional face areas of the plate illustrated in Fig. 12, andthis, of is what occurred. These curves clearly show the inequality of current density on the face of a unifunctional plate and demonstrate the phenomenon that I have described herein as the probable major cause of sulfating in electrical storage battery cells of unifunetion'al plate type, and particularly those of relatively large superficial area. It will be noted that current density is rela t-ively lighter along the vertical central regions of the late and relatively heavier above the horizontal center and along the more extreme outer sections.

, It is obvious from this visual demonstration that by decreasing the distance between the lateral edge areas of a conducting medium of plate form, in other words, by re stric'ting its width, the equalization of current density in a horizontal direction is more 'closely approximated and these curves, in

conjunction with my explanation regarding the equalization of potential, show also that the same rule applies with regard to current equalization in a vertical direction, for the reason that this shortening and narrowing process tends to eliminate or restrict the eX- tent of those relatively remote central areas which are responsible for unequal current density. These are the conditions which fix, approximately, the standard measurements 0 my, bifunctional plates as given herein, and they-show why I have 'departed from the present method of storing electricity through the medium of conducting plates of relatively large superficial area," andjsubstituted therefor extremely short and extremely narrow metallic conductors and active columns. Moreover, as the lateral edges of these conducting. strips are completely insulated by the hollow frames and by other means in the other bifunctional'plates referredto herein and access to the verticaledge regions of the active columns largely cut 'off by the closed bearings of the mechanical separator herein described, the extraneous stream lines of the working unit have beenreduced to an absolute minimum and current flow confined to which mark the disintegration and dlsplaceadded to cover theplates.

. the battery out-of service at all.

be noted that the life of these cells is'not de- 3 .arator which is the subject of thisspecifica tion act as shields and supports to the active material, and thus serve to maintain the latter permanently in place: The value of this function from the view-point of utility cannot be over-'estimatedfor. the following reas0ns:"-'Ihe term of useful life of practically all electrical storage batteries, as heretofore constructed, is determined by the periods ment of the active material. Apart from '85 mechanical jarring and vibration, which may be descri bed as extraneous-causes, these disruptingjeffects are produced by the normal expansion and contraction of the active I material, more particularly on the positive plates or grids, in response to the phenomenon of electro-chemical transmutation under charge and discharge, and commonly called breathing which has a tendency to loosen and detach the superimposed. or pocketed oxid from the supporting plates or grids, and this influence is abetted by the scouring action of the electrolyte produced bycirculation. To show that this is a well recognized condition in the art as practiced toda in the Operation of unifunctional plate eel s! I direct attention to a report of a stated meeting of the'Railway Signal. Association, published in their journal, issued at Bethlehem, Pa., U. S. A. Vol. XI, No. 3 July, 1908, and particularly to page 141 thereof Where, in the record of a discussion of the storage bat-- I tery in Signal'Service, and under the cap-. tion Sediment, the following statement is made.: Is the sediment in the bottom of the jar up to or dangerously close to the plates! It should be c eaned out-if Within one-fourth to one-half inch. Sediment can be removed'in several difierent Ways. Inthe case of small cells, portable or sealed 11 cells, the simplest scheme is probably to dis mantle them. Lift out the plates which should be thoroughly washed off, pour out the clear electrolyte, and then remove the sediment and wash out the jar. The plates are thenreturned to the jar, the electrolyte put back, and sufiicient' new. electrolyte In case of stationary batteries, where is is not desirablev to dismantle the cells, the sediment can irequently be cleaned out through the use of suitably shaped Wooden scoops, and the operation can be carried. out without 11161 I and is progressive with relation to time,

ing the we] the phenomenon of "has been displaced 1s irrevocably lost.

ration of 1 original quantity.

termined by the electro-chemical exhaustion of the active material, ifsuclilbe possible, nor essentially through deterioration of the supporting plates or grids, but by the mechanical'displacement of the material from which the energy-of the cells is derived and which, so nisplaced, is commonly called sediment. This energy, primarily, is in direct proportion to the quantity or Weight of active material in place and in action, and any loss thereof represents a proportionate loss of energy in the cell. V hen these unifunctional plate cells reach the point of final exhaustion the quantity of active material present and in place in association with the positive plates or grids is less than the original quantity, and that part whliach e newal can. only be effected and the term of life of the cell extended by providing fresh material in the form of new positive plates orgrids; v In my bifunctional plates, through means provided with rators herein discussed, the active columns are sustained permanently in place. The active material, as previously stated, cannot sub-divide in particles sufiiciently fine to enter and escape through the perforations of the protecting shields, and the shouring action of the electrolyte is expended against the exposed faces of these shields and not against the facesiof the inclosed and protected active coliiinns. The term of useful life of my bifunctional plates must, therefore, be determined in the first instance by the time periods which will mark the deteriothe anode conducting strips, oxidation, to degrees that will so "heir conductivity as to render them rviceable. Thefoxidation of the anode str ps caused by the operation of charging t wilhi owever, readily be seen that these time periods may be controlled by adjustght of these anode strips, by regu lating their thickness, to compensate for the effects of oxidation. When my plate reaches vthe point of exhaustion described above,

the, quantity. of active material present and in place in association' with its anodes is greater reason has been raised: to'-an oxid and added to the Inasmuch as this condition is progressive throughout the useful life period of my plates they do not show gradual deterioration which characterizes-cells as heretofore constructed. On the contrary, and u to the point Where loss 9f metallic con uctivity becomes a factor, progressively through the a'cquirement of additional active material from the sources named. Thus; by adjusting the Weight-i of than the original quantity, for the object of showing the art, and that their functions are perforated strips as plates, the vented mechanical sepa-- herein described are three fold.

that a part, of the anodes themselves :their capacity increases,

the passage of the electrolyte,

obvious, and in the achievement of this con- 'diti n the mechanicalseparator disclosed herein performs-a vital function.

The within explanations are made with the that the perforated strips forming the corn )onent parts of the mechanical separator w ich is the main subject of. this specification are not perforated plates, as that term is interpreted and understood in dissimilar. If the depth or thickness of my bifunctional plates were to be increased so that the metallic conducting strips might properly be describedas metallic plates, and the perforated insulating current density could-not, be equalized with the same degree of precision that has now been attained, for the reasons herein set forth, and the reaction termed sulfating which has been totally eliminated under practically all conditions would become an obstructive factor in their operation.

As now constructed the only way in which my bifunctional plate can-be sulfatedi is by discharging it and permitting it to rest in that condition for a protracted period-a result easily avoided, but inevitable, in the case-of any lead-lead celi subjected to similar neglect, r

The. functions of the'i'nechanical separator First, it provides a shield or retaining wall which permanently supports and conserves the active 7 columns; second, it constitutes an unobstructed flue or chimney for the liberation of nascent gases and the circulation of the electrolyte; and, third, it aids in cutting off I cxtraneousstream lines and in concentratin current flow along the path lines describe 7 by the face areas of the active columns.

I do not limit my improvement to the especial means hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings for effecting the marked improved results attained and as particularly eiemplified b the comparison curves shown in Fig. 5, as believe it is broadly new with me to utilize a vented mechanical separator with a bifunc tional storage battery plate in contradistinction to orous absorbing media, such as is disclosed in my prior patents 'hereinbefore referred to. By the term vented mechan-' ical-separators hereinbefore used and hereinafter embodied in the claims, I wish'to be distinctly understood as meaning any mechanical separator which is provided with a plurality of small holes or openings made for and however-x.

arranged or disposed so as to afford a free circulationofithe same to the active material, and also'forafi'ording a full and free tlon of thegeneratcd gases.

libera- Having thus described invention what I' claimand desire to secure byLetters-Patentof theUn'ited States-is A bifunctionalstorage battery plate embracing' anodeand cathode strips coated nltheiropposite "faces with active material;

2. A: bifunctional storage battery plate "embracing anode and cathode strips having their edges fully insulated from the electro lyte and'the ir opposite faces c oated with relatively thin layers of active? material; in com-,

.- bination with vented mechanical separators so constructed as to afford a free circulation of the electrolyte through the plate f1 om side to side and a free access thereof to-the active material, substantially as described.

I 3. A. bifunctional storage battery plate embracing interleaved anode and "cathode.

strips and perforated mechanical separators between said strips; together with means for holding the separators apart so as to afl'orda' free circulation ofthe electrolyte, substan tially as described. 4

4. A bifunctional storage battery late embracing a plurality of anode and cat ode strips, the anode'strips being all electrically connected together'at one end of the plate,

I and the cathode strips similarly connected together at the other end thereof; in combination with perforated so alfa'tors between a the strips, and means for mlding the separators apart so as to allord afree circulation of the'electrolyte, substantiallyias described.

5. A bifunctional storage battery plate embracing a plurality of" interleaved 'anode' and cathode strips held each by an individual frame or su port; in combination with perforated mechanical separators and means for holding the same apart so as to afford a free circulation of the-electrolyte, substantially as described. V

6. A bifunctional storage battery plate embracing a pluralit of interleaved anode and cathode strips he (1 each by an individual frame and coated on both faces wit active material; in combination with perforated mechanical separators, one resting against the opposite face of each frame, and means for holding said separators apart and against the faces of the frames, substantially as described.

7. 'A -bifuncti nal .storage batter -holding said strips and active. material '"in place. a plurality of pairs of perforated sepaplatei embracing a plurality of interleave anode rators for holding the active material in ace within thefmnies, and means for he ding said separators apart; together with means for binding all of said parts into one compact plate, substantially as described.

- 8 A- bifunctional storage battery piste embracing a-plurality of anode and cat- (16 strips coated on their opposite faces'with activematerial and separated from each other by perforated mechanical separators of in' sulating material, substantial y as described.

9. A bif-unctional storage battery plate embracing a plurality of open frames sustaining each an anode or a cathode strip and acting as a support for active material on opposite faces of such strips, mechanical separators between said frame-s, said separators being perforated and sustained against the faces of the frames so to admit of free circulation of the electrolyte to the active material on the anodes and cathodes, and also permit of the release of all of the gases, substantially as described. I

10. A bifuncti-onal storage battery plate embracing a plurality of open frames having holes or openings at each end, a lurality of anode and cathode strips with 1i 0 holes at one end only, active material held in place by the frames and on the faces of all of the strips,

perforated separators between the adjacent .frames provided also with holes or openings at thcirends in combination with means extending through all 'of the aforesaid holes or openings for binding all the parts together, the anode strips all being electrically connectcd together at one end and the cathode strips, similarly connected at the other end, substantially as described.

11. A bifunctional storage battery plate embracing a plurality of anode and cathode strips combined with mcch nical separators therefor vented laterallyand vertically, substantially as described.

12. A bifunctionalstorage battery plate embracing interleaved anode and cathodestrips each coated on both faces with active material; together with vented mechanical separators therefor, scribed.

13. A bifunctional storage battery late embracing interleaved anode and cat ode strips coated each on both faces with active material; together with 'v'ented'mcchanical, separators and means for binding all of said parts together in one compact mass, subsubstantially as destantially as described.

14. -A bifunctio-nal storage battery late embracing interleaved anode and cat 'ode strips and vented mechanical separators therefor, the anode strips being all electrically connected at one end and the cathode strips similar-l connected at the other end, su stantial y as described.

15. A bifunctional storage battery plate embracing interleaved anode and cathode strips and vented mechanical separators t'heret'or. the a nodest rips l'eing all electrically eonneeted at one end and the cathode strips similarly connected at the other end; to-

gether with means for binding said parts to channels extending through said media froin side to side and vertimilly disposed llues ex tending from top to bottom ol the plate for all'ording a l'reeeiieulation of the electrolyte and liberation of all the gases generated, substantially as described.

lSL'A bi t'unetional storage battery plate embracing a pluralityoi" open insulating frames, a plurality of anode and cathode strips held one in each frame, a plurality of meehanieal separators having channels or oienings extending to opposite sides of the plate, and \'l|'[l('llll disposed llues extending the entirelength of the plate, whereby a. free eireulatioir ol' the electrolyte to all parts of the anodes and eathodes results and a coniplete liberation ot' all generated gases is effected, substantially as described.

ll). Adiil'unetional storage battery plate embracing a plurality of open insulating frames, a plurality of anode and cathode strips held one in eaeh frame, a plurality of mechanical separators having channels or o )enings extending to opposite sides of the plate, and vertically disposed llues extending the entire length of the )late, whereby a free circulation of theelectrolyte to all pa rtfs of tho anodes and cathodes results and a complete liberation of all generated gases is etl'e ted in [BEAR] 'lectioniin Letters Patent No. 926,710.

"interleaved anode and cathode strips and )crforated m'cc-l'ianic-al se arators which af- 0rd free. circulation of t e electrolyte; the anode strips of all the individual plates being I connected in multiple circuit to a common conductor and the cathode strips all similarly tially as described.

2]. A storage battery plate of. relatively large capacity embracing a plurality of individual bifunctional plates each consisting of a, plurality of interleaved anode and cathode trips eaeh coated on both sides with active material, perforated mechanical separators for the strips, and means for holding said separators a )artsoas to afford a free circula tion of the electrolyte; the anode strips of all of the individual plates being connected in multiple circuit to a common conductor, and the cathode strips all similarly connected to another conductor, substantially as described. I 22. A storage battery plate of relatively .large capacity embracing a pluralityof individual hifunctional plates each having anode and cathode strips and 'ierforated mechanical separators between the same, means for holding the parts of each date in fixedor rigid relation; and a main rainc or $11 port adapted to detachably support; all 0 said platesytogether with additional means for connecting the anode strips of the individual plates in multiple with a common conductor, and like means for similarly connecting all of the cathode strips to a. second common condun-tor, snl'istvantialbv as described.

In testimony whereof I have. signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- ALFRED O. TATE.

\Yitnesses:

cation requiring correction, as follows: 72 should road 216; and that the PIOPQOOITQGfiOD has been made in the files at recdrds of the Patent Office, and is hereby made in caidLetbors l 'atent.

- Signed and sealed? this 3rd day of Augusta A; 1b.,- 1909.

C. J. Kix'rxmi, M. F. li gxrixon It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 926,710, grantcd Jnne 29, 909, upon the application of Alfred O. Tate, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for an improvement in Bifimctiona] Storage-Battery Plates, an error appears in the'prinbed specifi- In lin'e 121, page 6, the reference-numeral F. A. TEriNA'NT,

I Acting Commiuianer of Patent.

connected to another conductor, substanstrips and vented mechanical separators t'heret'or. the a nodest rips l'eing all electrically eonneeted at one end and the cathode strips similarly connected at the other end; to-

gether with means for binding said parts to channels extending through said media froin side to side and vertimilly disposed llues ex tending from top to bottom ol the plate for all'ording a l'ree'eiieulation of the electrolyte and liberation of all the gases generated, substantially as described.

' lSL'A bi t'unetional storage battery plate embracing a pluralityoi" open insulating frames, a plurality of anode and cathode strips held one in each frame, a plurality of meehanieal separators having channels or oienings extending to opposite sides of the plate, and \'l|'[l('llll disposed llues extending the entirelength of the plate, whereby a. free eireulatioir ol' the electrolyte to all parts of the anodes and eathodes results and a coniplete liberation ot' all generated gases is effected, substantially as described.

ll). Adiil'unetional storage battery plate embracing a plurality of open insulating frames, a plurality of anode and cathode strips held one in eaeh frame, a plurality of mechanical separators having channels or o )enings extending to opposite sides of the plate, and vertically disposed llues extending the entire length of the )late, whereby a free circulation of theelectrolyte to all pa rtfs of tho anodes and cathodes results and a complete liberation of all generated gases is etl'e ted in [BEAR] 'lectioniin Letters Patent No. 926,710.

combination with means for binding all of said parts into one compact mass, substantially as described.

20. A storage battery plate of relatively large capacity embracing a plurality of individual bifunctional plates each consisting of "interleaved anode and cathode strips and )crforated m'cc-l'ianic-al se arators which af- 0rd free. circulation of t e electrolyte; the anode strips of all the individual plates being I connected in multiple circuit to a common conductor and the cathode strips all similarly connected to another conductor, substantially as described.

2]. A storage battery plate of. relatively large capacity embracing a plurality of individual bifunctional plates each consisting of a, plurality of interleaved anode and cathode trips eaeh coated on both sides with active material, perforated mechanical separators' for the strips, and means for holding said separators a )artso'as to afford a free circula tion of the electrolyte; the anode strips of all of the individual plates being connected in multiple circuit to a common conductor, and the cathode strips all similarly connected to another conductor, substantially as described. I 22. A storage battery plate of relatively .large capacity embracing a pluralityof individual hifunctional plates each having anode and cathode strips and 'ierforated mechanical separators between the same, means for holding the parts of each date in fixed'or rigid relation; and a main rainc or $11 port adapted to detachably support; all 0 said platesytogether with additional means for connecting the anode strips of the individual plates in multiple with a common conductor, and like means for similarly connecting all of the cathode strips to a. second common condun-tor, snl'istvantialbv as described.

In testimony whereof I have. signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED 'o. TATE.

\Yitnesses:

cation requiring correction, as follows: 72 should road 216; and that the PIOPQOOITQGfiOD has been made in the files at" recdrds of the Patent Office, and is hereby made in caidLetbors l 'atent.

- Signed and sealed? this 3rd day of Augusta A; 1b.,- 1909.

C. J. Kix'rxmi, M. F. li gxrixon It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 926,710, grantcd Jnne 29, 909, upon the application of Alfred O. Tate, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for an improvement in Bifimctiona] Storage-Battery Plates, an error appears in the'prinbed specifi- In lin'e 121, page 6, the reference-numeral F. A. TEriNA'NT,

I Acting Commiuianer of Patent.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 926,710, granted June 29, l909, upon the application of Alfred O. Tate, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for an improvement in Bifunctional Storage-Battery Plates, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 121, page 6, the reference-numeral 72 should read 216,- and that the proper eorrection has been made in the files a reeerds of the Patent Olfiee, and is hereby made in said Letters P atent.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of August, A. 1)., 1909.

HEAL F. A. TENNANT,

Acting Commiuiuner of Patent. 

